Chapter 2038: Million Demons

Xiao Bai couldn't help but glance at Xiao Qing a few more times. She wondered if Xiao Qing and Big Brother Zu had a secret she didn't know about. "Oh no, when did I fall behind?" she thought.

Yu Yanluo had no mind for jealousy at this moment. Instead, she was more concerned about her lover's safety. "A'Zu," she asked, "are you really confident?"

Zu'an recalled the previous divination that portended certain death, and a shadow of dread lingered in his heart. "Don't worry," he said, "I'm very strong now. It'll be fine."

Precisely because of the various unknown dangers, he couldn't let Yu Yanluo, in her current state, risk herself with him.

"Alright then, I won't hold you back," Yu Yanluo conceded. "I'll return to Iron Ore City as quickly as possible and organize reinforcements for you." Yu Yanluo was a mature woman, rational enough to understand that in her current condition, he would have to expend effort taking care of her.

Zu'an appreciated this about her as well, holding her tightly in his embrace.

"Take care!" Yu Yanluo said, a hint of worry in her eyes. For the first time, she had detected uncertainty in her lover's tone.

"You two be careful as well," Zu'an reminded them. After his warning, he pushed off with his toes and soared into the sky.

Yu Yanluo stood in the wind and snow, gazing blankly at his departing figure, reluctant to leave for a long time.

Xiao Bai, somewhat puzzled, asked, "Clan Leader, if you're so reluctant to part, why not go with Big Brother Zu?"

Yu Yanluo smiled faintly. "You're still young, you'll understand later. Let's head back quickly. I hope we can reach the exit safely."

Xiao Bai and Xiao Qing's hearts tightened. If they encountered those demons again, it would indeed be quite dangerous.

"Don't worry," Xiao Qing exclaimed, "Big Brother Zu gave us many defensive talismans, and several array disks too! Clan Leader, Big Brother Zu is really good to you."

"I think you could tell us about that 'reward' though," Yu Yanluo said, looking at her with a half-smile.

"Yeah, what secret do you and Big Brother Zu have?" Xiao Bai asked, looking at her sister suspiciously.

"Oh, I was just kidding!" Xiao Qing's cheeks flushed slightly. But it really was fun, like eating a lollipop.

"Hmph, you're clearly hiding something from me! Tell me now!" Xiao Bai refused to let it go, pulling at her face. The sisters quickly dissolved into playful antics.

Watching their playful antics, a warm smile appeared on Yu Yanluo's face.

Just then, whistling cold winds swept through. She instinctively wrapped her cloak tighter around her. She hated the cold the most, and this icy, snowy environment made her extremely uncomfortable. Gazing at the blurred, snow-covered path ahead, she murmured, "I hope we can reach the exit safely..."

As if on cue, what she feared most came to pass. After about an hour of walking, the three suddenly stopped, alerted.

Dark figures appeared in the wind and snow, quickly surrounding the trio.

Xiao Bai and Xiao Qing's expressions changed. They quickly pulled out the array disks and talismans Zu'an had given them, preparing for battle.

At that moment, Yu Yanluo pressed down on their hands. "It's pointless," she said.

The sisters looked at her, puzzled. Yu Yanluo sighed, "They might be useful against small groups of demons, but against the Second Prince's battle-hardened elite troops, any effort we make would be in vain."

Just then, a hearty laugh rang out. "As expected of the Medusa Queen, such composure is truly captivating."

Soon, a young man in golden armor emerged, riding a strange beast. His appearance bore some resemblance to the Old Demon Emperor, but his brow was younger, exuding an air of youthful vigor.

"The Second Prince!" Xiao Bai and Xiao Qing immediately recognized him. As the most famous prince, few in the entire demon race didn't know him.

The Second Prince's eyes lit up. "Are all the snake clan girls so fresh and vibrant?" he wondered.

Still, the Medusa Queen in the center was the most stunning, truly a beauty capable of toppling kingdoms.

Yu Yanluo's expression turned slightly cold. "All of us came out in full force to save you, and so many people died, yet here you are, perfectly fine."

"So many people died?" The Second Prince's smile vanished. "Then how many of my subordinates and I have died over the years defending against the demons?"

"This endless attrition, everyone has despaired," he continued. "Because everyone knows that this is happening because I failed in my bid for the throne during the battle for the Royal Court. And those powerful figures in the Royal Court, because my army is strong enough that they can't openly kill me, can only use this method to wear me down."

He paused, his expression turning cold. "In other words, unless we spill our very last drop of blood, we will never escape this fate."

Hearing his words, the soldiers under his command all showed indignant expressions. Clearly, no one could bear this hopeless fate.

"You were already guilty to begin with," Yu Yanluo retorted angrily. "The Royal Court, considering the bigger picture, didn't kill you and gave you a chance to atone. Yet, not only did it fail to earn your gratitude, but it bred your resentment and rebellion instead! Moreover, the Royal Court wasn't entirely uncaring about your lives. It provided you with the best logistical support and frequently replenished your troops. How is that trying to drain your last drop of blood?"

"Everyone has their own perspective; arguing about this now is meaningless," the Second Prince said, clearly not wishing to debate the issue with her. "Medusa Queen, will you fight or surrender?"

Hearing this, Xiao Bai and Xiao Qing nervously stared at the surrounding army. They whispered to Yu Yanluo, "Clan Leader, we have some secret techniques. We'll cover your escape later. Don't look back, just try your best to run!"

Remembering their promise to Big Brother Zu, combined with their inherent duty to protect their clan leader, a glint of determination flashed in both girls' eyes.

Yu Yanluo shook her head. "Enough people have sacrificed themselves on this journey. I cannot let you do something meaningless. We surrender."

She knew the sisters intended to use their lives to cover her, but how could she agree to that?

The key was that she clearly understood: in front of a renowned general like the Second Prince, leading an army, there might be a tiny glimmer of hope only if she were still at her peak. As things stood now, no matter the cost, escape was impossible.

Hearing her words, the Second Prince smiled. "As expected of the Medusa Queen. Issue orders: welcome these ladies into the camp. No disrespect is to be shown to them for the next few days."

A little while later, Xiao Bai quietly asked Yu Yanluo among the crowd, "Clan Leader, they haven't sent anyone to restrain us, nor have they placed any restrictions on us. We can even move freely as long as we stay within their designated area."

"Yes, yes, and they didn't even separate us! I was so worried at first," Xiao Qing nodded eagerly.

"The Second Prince is a very proud man," Yu Yanluo replied. "After all, I am also the king of a clan. Since we surrendered honorably, he will naturally grant us the respect we deserve."

"Then he's actually quite nice," Xiao Bai and Xiao Qing remarked with emotion.

"Nice person..." Yu Yanluo's face remained expressionless. In recent days, countless people had been killed by him.

Looking at the direction the army was moving, Yu Yanluo felt a flicker of confusion. This seemed to be the direction out of the sealed land. Was the Second Prince planning to take his people out?

Wasn't he afraid of the Peacock Divine King in Iron Ore City?

Meanwhile, as Zu'an flew through the wind and snow, he suddenly felt a pang in his heart. He turned back to look, but unfortunately, with the swirling snow everywhere, everything was a blurry gray, and he couldn't see the path he had come from.

He wasn't sure if his worry was clouding his judgment, but he kept worrying if Yu Yanluo and the others could return safely.

"They should be fine..."

As things stood, he couldn't go back to find them. After all, the situation with the Little Demon Empress was even more critical; the city could fall and her army be annihilated at any moment.

He continued to adjust his direction along the way. At first, he worried he wouldn't find Monte City in this vast sealed land, as this world had no satellite navigation, and maps were only rough approximations.

However, he soon realized he had worried needlessly. The air was thick with the distinct, foul stench of demons, so potent it was almost suffocating.

"Such a strong smell..." Zu'an followed the scent, and gradually, his expression changed.

An overwhelming tide of demons, likely numbering in the millions, surrounded a solitary city, three layers deep on the inside and three on the outside.

The city was like a small boat in a raging sea, on the verge of sinking at any moment. In the face of millions of demons, individual strength seemed utterly insignificant.

Goosebumps rose on Zu'an's body. The scene before him was like seeing clusters of barnacles covering seaside rocks in his previous life, a nightmare for anyone with trypophobia.